Recorder



May 10, 1938. A. L. sPREcKER RECORDER Filed March 14, 1934 6Sheets-Sheet l May 10, 1938.

A. L. sPREcKl-:R

RECORDER Filed March 14, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 w my V m .NGE

` ATTORNEY May l0, 1938. A. L. sPREcKER RECORDER Filed March 14, 1934 6Sheets-Sheet 3 mw mw N @m Qm ATTORNEY May l0, 1938. A. L. sPREcKER2,115,664

RECORDER Filed March 14, 1954 e sheets-sheet 4 INVENTO )s @MKM May l0,1938. A. l.. sPREcKER RECORDER F'iled March 14, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 YINVTO- Liu :muto

ATTORNEY May 10, 1938. A.. L. sPREcKER RECORDER Filed March 1:4, 1954 6Sheets-Sheet 6 6. .Qdi

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, .M WW my ATTORNEY Patented May 10, 1938 PATENT ori-fic RECORDER Ain-edL Sprecher, neem-t, N. Y., uam a Business Machines Co Internationalrporati New York, N. Y., acorporation of New York Application March 14,1934, Serial No. 715.438

22 Claims.

This invention relates to recorders in general.

'I'he broad object of the invention is to provide an elapsed timerecorder which is more adaptable and more flexible than prior recorders.

Another object is to provide an elapsed time recorder which is simple ofconstruction and operation yet capable of accurately measuring andrecording the elapsed time of a plurality of employees or operations orsteps in the process of manufacture of an article.

A further object is to provide an elapsed time recorder capable ofmaking a complete series of entries respecting a given job on a singleJob card and making the entries in such fashion that each entry is acomplete check on the other entries.

A further object is to provide an elapsed time recorder which has aplurality of elapsed time units coacting with a single printing unit theoperations of all of such units being controlled selectively by means ofa single control lever or manual.

Another object is to provide an elapsed time recorder capable of makingcomplete records of 25 a single` job on a single card, such as theworkmen's numbers, the starting and iinishing time of a plurality ofoperations or steps in the process oi manufacture, and the elapsed timeof each operation. The entries corresponding to the various .operationsmay or may not be made in chronological order as desired.

A specific object is to provide an elapsed time recorder which can bemanufactured very cheaply in any desired capacity.

Another speciilc object is to provide a multiunit elapsed time recorderwherein the elapsed time units are more or less self contained and havefew working parts all oi' which are of a simple nature and can becheaply manufactured.

Brieily described, the invention includes a plurality of elapsed timeunits, a single printing unit, and a manual control lever adapted toselectively start, stop, and connect the elapsed time units totheprinting unit to control the latter, operate the latter, and reset theselected elapsed time unit. The elapsed time units may be individual toworkmen or machines and each is capable of measuring the time requiredto perform a predetermined operation or step in the.

process of manufacture or measure the operating time of a givenproduction machine or workman. The printing unit is capable of making anentry on a card including the workmans number or the number of' themachine, the starting or iininshing times of the operation or step, and

the elapsed time, all under control of the single manual control lever.'l'he recorder' is so arranged that a plurality of registrations orentries can be made onia single record card vso that such card will showa complete history of a Job. The arrangement of the Printing unit andthe control connections is such that the recorder is adaptable to aninfinite number of situations without material change in theconstruction of the recorder.

Various objects, features, and advantages of the invention other thanthose mentioned above will be pointed out in the following descriptionand claims or will be apparent from va study ot the description, claims,and drawings.`

In s aid drawings:

Fig. l is a front elevation partly in section.

Fig. 2 is a plan view partly in section.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 8 3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section on the line 4--4 in Fig. 2. y

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line M in Fig. 1.'

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the mechanism for controlling the card stopasvlewed from left in Fig. l.

Fig. 'l is a view similar to Fig. 5 but shows certain parts in operatedposition. y

Fig. 8 is a view of a card adapted for use with the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view ofthe mechanism shown in Fig. '1.

Fig. i0 is an enlarged plan view partly in section, showing in operated*,position certain parts in Fig. 9. p

Fig. l1 is a large scale elevation of certain parts shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. l2 is a large scale verticalsection on the line i2-I2 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 13 is a large scale plan view oi certain parts shown in Fig. 9.

Essentially the invention consists, as briefly stated above, of a clockor timing unit ot some kind, a plurality of elapsed time units adaptedto be selectively connected to the clock or timing unit, and a printingmechanism adapted to be controlled by the elapsed time units. The latterare preferably constructed as more or less independent units in order toprovide for flexibility of construction, and enable recorders ofdifferent capacities to be constructed on a production basis as desired.All the above basic elements or mechanisms are mounted on a common base2li (Figs. 1, 2, and 4) having a number oi' verti- .2 cal parallel'frames secured thereto comprising four main-frames 2| to 24, inclusive,and a plurality of sub-frames or partition frames which support theelapsed time units.

Any number of such units may be provided as desired but only ten havebeen shown in the drawings purely for convenience in illustration andeconomy of space. As there are ten elapsed time units there are providedeleven of the frames 25.

'Ihe recorder is enclosed by a casing 26 which rests on the base 20 andhas an upwardly extending subcasing 21 which protects the timing unit orclock 28. The latter may take any desired form, that is, it may be aspring operated clock, a synchronous motor type clock, or any well knownform of magnetically operated secondary clock controlled by impulsesfrom a remote master clock, or a combination of any of the foregoing maybe used. For example, a spring driven or synchronous motor driven clockor clock movement may operate contacts which control an electromagneticsecondary driving the elapsed time units. It will suillce to state herethat, whatever form the timing unit or clock may take, it drives avertical shaft 29 (Fig. 2) projecting from the sub-casing 21 into themain casing 26 and, through gears 23a, drives a horizontal shaft 33 atthe rate, in the illustrative embodiment of the invention, of onerevolution in six minutes. The shaft 33 is common to all the elapsedtime units andl furnishes suillclent power to drive any and all oi' themthat may have been selectively coupled to said shaft in a manner to beexplained more .fully later herein. A

The printing mechanism is mounted on frames 2|, 22 yand a bracket 3| atthe left end of the machine (Figs. 1, 2. and 4) and includes type wheels32 to 35, inclusive, having raised type which are both reversed andinverted. The type wheel 32 is adapted to print numbers identifying theelapsed time unit selected for controlling the printing mechanism.

These vnumbers may represent workmens numbers, bench numbers, or evenjob numbers, according to the system followed by the user` of therecorder. In the present description it will be assumedA that the typewheel 32 bears ten types ranging from "1 to 10 and represent workmensnumbers.

The type wheels 33, 34 are for printing the time of day when jobs oroperations are started and finished, the wheel 33 being the hour wheelwhile 34 is the minutes wheel. Accordingly, there are twelve types onthe wheel 33 and sixty types on wheel 34, as usual.` The type wheels 33,34 may be driven by the vertical shaft 23 by suitable gearing (notshown) or they may be actuated by separate means synchronized with theclock 23 as, for instance, by a standard electromagnetic secondarymovement or a synchronous motor after a fashion common in timerecorders.

The type wheel 35 is adapted to print the total elapsed time undercontrol of a selected elapsed time unit and for that reason is securedto a shaft 36 common to all the elapsed time units and journaled in`iframes 22 to 25, inclusive. This type wheel, in the-illustrativeembodiment of the vinvention, may have 119 types ranging from 0.0 to11.8 to represent hours and tenths of hours up to 11.8 hours. Due topeculiarities in the construction of the recorder shown, the types donot cover the circumference of wheel 35 completely but there is arelatively large gap or blank space between the 0.0 type and the 11.8type, this distance being equivalent to .2 of an hour. In other words,the types are /go of a circumference apart. The reason yfor thisconstruction will appear later.

The mechanisms for positioning type wheel 32 and taking an impressionfrom the type wheels 32 to 35 will next be described as both are closelyassociated. Extending longitudinally of the recorder,and journaled inframes 2|, 24 is a sh'aft 31, secured to the left end (Figs. 1 and 2) of.which is a'gear 33 meshing with an idler gear 33. 'Ihe latter mesheswith a gear 40 fixed to a sleeve 4| secured to type wheel 32, the sleeve4| being journaled on a short shaft 42 supported by frames 2 I 22. Theshaft 42 also supports the type wheels 33, 34. Secured to shaft 31 is adrum 43 which in length is approximately two thirds of the length ofshaft 31. This drum has a spiral groove 44 by means of which said drumand hence type wheel 32 may be rotated differentially as will be seenpresently.

Parallel with shaft 31 and journaled in frames 2 I, 24 is a shaft 45which has a keyway cut therein which keyway has secured therein a key 46of length at least equal to drum 43 and located opposite said drum.Slidably mounted on shaft 45 is a yoke 41 having a pin 43 projectinginto groove 44. The yoke 41 is adapted to permit shaft 45 to rotaterelative to said yoke, in spite of the presence of key 46. Mounted onthe shaft 45 between the arms of yoke 41 is a hand lever 43 to which issecured a handle and a pointer-5|. 'I'he hand lever 43 extends through awide horizontal slot 52 in the casing 26 and a horizontal slot 53 in aguide plate 54 partly covering the opening 52 and screwed to casing 26.IThe guide plate 54 has ten vertical slots or notches 53a at spacedintervals and extending downwardly from the horizontal slot 53 (Fig. 1).Each notch has a number which corresponds to one of the types on typewheel 32.

- 'I'he proportions and arrangement of the parts just described are suchthat type wheel 32 is rotated whenever handle 5|) is grasped and movedhorizontally in slot 53, due to pin 46 riding in groove 44 and causingdrum 43 and hence type wheel 32 to rotate. In other words, when pointer5| coincides with any given number on the guide plate 54, thecorresponding type on wheel 32 will be at the printing point and lever49 will be immediately above the corresponding vertical slot 53a.

The key 46 is slidable in-a keyway cut in the hub of handle 49 so thatdepression of the handle 50 to cause lever 49 to move down into slot 53awill also cause shaft 45 to rock in a counterclockwise direction (Fig.4) Secured to the left hand end of shaft 45 is a gear 55 which mesheswith an idler 56. The latter meshes'with a gear 51 secured to a shaft 53journaled in frame 2| and bracket 3|. Pinned to shaft 53 is an arm '53to which is pivoted a latch 63 having a hook portion normally engaging alug 6| formed in a lever 62 loosely mounted on shaft 53. The lower arm63 of lever 62 normally vis held by a spring 64 against an eccentricshoulder on a screw stud 65 carried by bracket 3|. In this position ofthe parts a spring 66, attached to latch 60 and arm 59, holds the latchin engagement with the lug 6I. Hinged to the upper arm of lever 62 is aprinting hammer 61, the type of hinge joint being such as to permit thehammer to swing only in a clockwise direction (Fig. 4), a spring 63secured to lever 62 and hammer 61 normally holding the major axes ofboth lever 62 and the shank of the printing hammer in substantially astraight line as in Fig. 4. The tail 69 of llatch 60 is adapted. whenarm 59 is rocked in a counterclockwise ldirection to strike an eccentricshoulder on a screw stud 10. and the position oi' the stud is such thatthe latch 68 will be gradually disengaged from the lug 8| as the armrocks as described. By rotating the stud 1l the point at which completedisengagement occurs can be regulated.

When the handle 68 is grasped and moved horizontally in slot 63 to bringpointer 5| into register with a number on plate 54 and then said handleis depressed, shaft 45 will be rocked counterclockwise (Fig. 4), rockingshaft 58 and arm 59 likewise through gears 55, 66, 51. The latch 88. byengaging lug 6|. will rock lever 62 and hammer 61 counterclockwiseagainst the tension oi' spring 64 until eventually the arm 69,cooperating with stud 10, will cause latch 60 to disengage lug 6Ipermitting spring 64 to rock lever 82 clockwise to its normal positionwith arm 63 abutting stud 65. When stud 65 arrests arm 68 the momentumof the hammer 61 causes it to pivot slightly on lever 62 against thetension of spring 68 with the result that the hammer head strikespercussively and is immediately restored by spring 68. Normally thehammer head is clear of the type wheels as shown in Fig. 4. Therestoration of. arm 59 to the position oi' Fig. 4 is partly effected bya torsion spring 1| surrounding shaft 58, said spring being secured atone of its ends to a collar 12 and at the other end to the bracket 3|and tends to rock arm 59 in a clockwise direction (Fig. 4).

'I'he casing 26 in front of the clock 28 and'over the printing mechanismis provided with a depression or recess 13 having a slot 14 directlyover the space between the type wheels and the head of hammer 61.Suspended from the fiat surface of the recess 13 and projectingdownwardly through slot 14 into the space between the type wheels andhammer 61 is a card chute or guide 15 which has a wide mouth 16 toreceive a suitable card 11 (Fig. 4) such as the one shown in Fig. 8. Thecard chute 15, as shown in Fig. l, is open at the bottom and formed withtwo parallel guides each extending downwardly to one side of the typewheels. This card chute guides a card into position to receive imprintsfrom the type wheels.

The present invention has means to selectively control printing onsuccessive lines of a card whereby the starting and stopping time ofseveral operations may be recorded on the same card. This means is bestshown in Figs. l, 2, 4,

l and 6. Rotatably mounted on the frame 2|, and

` projecting through a hole in casing 26, is a short shaft 18 to theinner end-of which is secured a pinion 19 while a knurled knob 90 and apointer 8| are secured to the end outside casing 26. The pointer`cooperates with a suitable dial 82 on which are marked words andnumbers to correspond with those in the extreme left hand column of thecard 11 (Fig. 8) under the heading Open, signifying Operation. Each ofthe five numerals has associated therewith two separate positions, onethe starting position and the other the stopping position. Altogetherthere are ten positions on dial 32 corresponding to ten lines on thecard 11. Obviously this arrangement is purely arbitrary as any number ofpositions may be provided, as desired.

.The pinion 19 meshes with a rack 83 which is vertically slidable, beingguided in its movements by two studs 84. 'Ihe lower end of rack 88 hassecured thereto a post Il carrying an arm 88 which extends forwardly (tothe left. Fig. 4) to a point slightly to the left of the lower part ofchute 1l (Pigs. 1 and 2). The arm 88 is bentto a right angle to form anarm 81 which extends horizontally below and in front of the type wheelsand between the lower parts oi' the chute 16. This arm 81 has two oiisetlugs 8l which lie in the .path of movement of a card dropped into thechute 15 but are to one side of the type wheel to avoid interferencewith the latter. It is plain that rotation of knob 80 in the properdirection will cause the two lugs 88 to move up or down to position acard for receiving an imprint on the line corresponding to a selectedstart or stop position on dial 82.

A suitable inking ribbon 89 is interposed between the chute 15 and thetype wheels and may be wound on spools 90 mounted on a frame 9| suitablysupported by the main framework. The ribbon 89 may be automatically fedby any well known mechanism for that purpose which may include a ratchet92 and a pawl 93 operated by suitable connections to the shaft 45 or anassociated part. 'I'he ribbon feed mechanism has not been illustrated indetail as it forms no part of the present mechanism and can be of anywell known form.

The description so far has been mainly concerned with the printingmechanism and the connections to the handle 50 for operating saidprinting mechanism. The mechanism for controlling the type wheel 35 toprint the elapsed time will now be described together with theconnections to handle 50 for selecting an elapsed time unit foroperation.

As was stated before herein, the recorder has ten elapsed time unitseach being more or less self contained to permit quantity production ofrecorders in various capacities to suit the needs of users. Each unit ismounted between a pair of adjacent partition frame plates 25 to all ofwhich plates are common the shafts 30, 36, 45, a shaft 94 and two tierods 95, 96. The lever 49 carrying handle 50 is shaped to form a gearsector 91 having gear teeth 98 adapted to mesh with pinions 99 securedto shaft 94. 'I'here is a pinion 99 for each elapsed time unit, one ofwhich units is generally designated |00 in Fig. 2 and is separated fromadjacent units by the partition frame plates 25. These elapsed timeunits are all alike and a description of one will suiilce for all.

The pinions 99 are so disposed that when lever 49 has been selectivelyset in alignment with a vertical slot 55 in plate 54, the sector 91 andone of the pinions 99 will be co-planar so that depression of handle 50will cause the selected pinion 99 to rotate in a clockwise direction(Figs. 5 and 7). Normally, however, the teeth of the sector do notengage any of the pinions 99 in order to permit the handle 50 and lever49 to be moved longitudinally of slot 53 without collision between theteeth 93 on the sector 91 and pinions 99. i

Secured to one side of sector 91 is a cam plate |0| adapted, when thehandle 50 is depressed to rotate one of the pinions 99, to engage androck a cam follower |02 pivoted at |03 on a stud secured to the adjacentframe plate 25 (Figs. 2 and 9). 'Ihere is a cam follower |02 for eachelapsed time unit and the upper end of such follower has a pin and slotconnection to an arm |04 forming part of a hub loosely mounted on ashort sleeve 35a on shaft 38. A spring |00, attached to a pin onfollower |02 and to a pin secured to the adjacent frame plate 25, holdsthe upper end of the follower |02 against a stop pin |01 also secured toframe plate 25.

The hub |05 has a cam surface |08 (Figs: 9 and coasting with a similarbut complementary cam surface |09 in a bushing ||0 surrounding shaft 36and sleeve 35a, and secured to plate 25. The cam surfaces |08, |08 areso disposed that normally hub |05 and bushing ||0 are in close contactas in Fig. 9, but, when arm |04 and hub |05 are rocked clockwise fromthe position of Fig. 5 to the position of Fig. '1 by the action of camplate |0| on follower |02, the relative movement between the hub |05 andbushing ||0 causes said hub to move axially of shaft 35 from theposition of Fig. 9 to that of Fig. lo.

Lcosely mounted on sleeve 36a is a collar against which presses one endof a coil spring ||2 surrounding said sleeve. The other` end of the coilspring bears in a recess in a hub H3 rigidly mounted on sleeve 36a andpresses said hub against an arm ||4 secured to shaft 36 adjacent the endof sleeve 36a. Rigidiy mounted on hub ||3 is a ratchet wheel ||5 androtatably mounted on the latter is a toothed escapement wheel I|5. Thelatter is provided with a continuous flange ||1 and three blocks ||5which embrace the sides of ratchet wheel ||5 opposite flange Ii'l andprevent accidental displacement of the ratchet wheel ||5 and escapementwheel ||5 relative to each other axially of shaft 36. Mounted in arecess in the escapement wheel |I6 is a spring-pressed pawl H9 (Fig. 5)which permits ratchet wheel ||5 to rotate in a clockwise directionrelative to escapement wheel H5 but prevents relative movement in theopposite sense. A spiral spring (Figs. 5 and 9) is secured to the end ofsleeve 36a adjacent the arm ||4 of the next adjacent elapsed time unitand to a pin |2| carried byV frame plate 25. The effect of this springis to tend to rotate in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 5) the sleeve35a of each elapsed time unit and the ratchet wheel connected to saidsleeve. This tendency is transmitted to the corresponding escapementwheel ||5 by means of pawl ||9. Actual movement of the ratchet wheelsand their escapement wheels is controlled by mechanism about to bedescribed.

Loosely mounted on the tie rod 95 (Figs. 5, '1 and 9) between the frameplates 25, are threearmed levers |22 which, for lack of a better term,maybe called verge levers. Two of the arms |23 of the verge levers havebent-over lugs adapted to engage the teeth of the escapement wheel ||5and the lugs are so disposed that normally one of them is engaging atooth in said escapement Wheel.

Furthermore, the lugs are so spaced that a half oscillation of the vergelever permits the escapement wheel to move one-half the distance betweentwo successive teeth. In other words, one full oscillation of a vergelever |22 permits the corresponding escapement wheel to move thedistance between the centers of two successive teeth. The ratchet wheels||5 have one hundred twenty teeth while the escapement' wheels i6 haveonly sixty teeth. Thus, one-half an oscillation of any verge lever 22will cause the corresponding ratchet wheel ||5 to move one toothdistance. The type wheel 35 and escapement wheel ||5 have a theoreticalcapacity of ananas .ing with opposite sides of a single lobe cam |25secured to a sleeve |21 loosely mounted on a stud |28 carried by frame25. Secured to sleevey |21 is a gear |20 and an eccentric shaped cam|30. The latter is between two dat springs i3| secured to a lug |32formed in the arm |24. As gear |20, cams |25, |30, and sleeve |21 rotateas a unit one of the springs |3| will be gradually exed more than theother and tends to cause one of the lugs |25 in arm |24 to press morefirmly against cam |25 as it rotates. Eventually, about the time thehigh point of cam |25 comes beneath the active lug |25, thepoint ofmaximum tensioning will be reached as in Figs. 5 and '7 and, when theactive lug does fall from the high point of cam |25 into the dwell, thespring |3| which is at maximum tension will cause a half oscillation ofthe verge lever |22 rapidly thus allowing escapement wheel H5 andratchet wheel H5 to move the angular distance between two adjacent teethin said ratchet wheel.

At points half-way between those of Figs. 5 and 7, both springs |3| willbe equally tensioned and both lugs in arms |23 will be at the centers oftheir arcs of movement but one or the other of them will still bedirectly engaging a tooth in the escapement wheel H5. Thus the lugs inarms |23 always engage a tooth in escapement wheel ||5 except at the twoplaces in each revolution of cam |25 where the lugs |25 are droppingfrom the high point to the low point of cam |25. This mechanism has beenadapted in order to secure a rapid and accurate action of the arms |23in spite of the slow speed of rotation of cam |25.

Gear |25 is in the same plane as a smaller gear |33 secured to shaft 30,the ratio being two to one, but does not normally mesh with the smallergear. 'I'he two gears |29, |33 of each elapsed time unit may beconnected for driving purposes by means of an idler gear |34 carried byone arm of a three armed lever |35 loosely mounted on tie rod 95, aspring |35, secured to another arm of said lever and to tie rod 35,normally tending to rock lever |35 clockwise to mesh idler gear |34 withgears |20, |33 as in Fig. 7. However, a latch |31 pivoted on the thirdarm of lever |35 normally engages a ixed lug carried by frame 25 andholds lever |35 in the position of Fig. 5.

Shaft 30 and hence gears |33 of al1 the elapsed time units make onerevolution in six minutes, that is, in one tenth of an hour. Gear |33will obviously drive gear |20 at the rate of one revolution in twelveminutes or two tenths of an hour. Since two half oscillations of vergelever |22 are produced by one revolution of cam |26 and gear |29, it isplain that ratchet wheel ||5 and escapement wheel ||5 will rotateonehl'fthe angular distance between two teeth on the escapement wheelfor each revolution of shaft 30.

Thus each tooth on ratchet wheel ||5 represents one tenth of an hour andthe number of teeth correspond exactly to the number of type on the typewheel which, as stated before, has a capacity of 12 hours by tenths ofan hour.

'I'he levers |35 of the diii'erent elapsed time units are selectivelyreleased under control of the handle 43 through the movement of hub |05'l5 already4 described. The ccuar In (nge. 9 and y10) is slotted toreceive the end of the short arm of a lever |39 pivoted at |40 to an earformed in ratchet wheel H5, a pin through thev slotted portion of collarengaging a slot in the short arm of lever |39. The free end of lever |39is formed as a rack |4| which meshes with pinion teeth |42 formed in astop member |43 loosely mounted on a stud |44 carried by an ear |45formed in the ratchet wheel ||5. Normally the parts just describedoccupy the positions shown in Fig. 9 but the axial movement of collaragainst the pressure exerted by spring ||2 causes the lever |39 to rockfrom the position of Fig. 9 to the position of Fig. 10 and has theeffect of moving stop member |43 to a position at right angles toratchet wheel ||5 as in Flg. 10. This movement of stop member |43 isutilized to release arm |35 to permit gears |29, |33, |34 to engage.

Pivoted to the third arm of lever |35 at |45 is a bell crank |41operated by a spring |49 and having limited rocking motion betweenbentover lugs |35a formed in lever |35. One arm of bell-crank |41 isgooseneck-shaped and has pivoted thereto a member |49 having an angularStop portion |50, a linger |5| abutting the tail of latch |31, and abent-over lug |52 limiting counterclockwise movement of member |49.

A spring |53, interposed between ears or lugs formed in the tail of4latch |31 and in bell crank |41, has the double purpose of operatinglatch |31 and, through finger |5|, holding member |49 in the position ofFig. 5 where lug 52 engages bell crank |41. ,i

Normally spring |49 holds bell crank |41 up against the upper lug |35awhile spring |53, acting on latch |31, vholds the latter and member |49in the positions of Fig. 5 where the vertical part of stop portion is inthe path of movement of stop member |43 when it rotates on its pivot|44. Movement of the stop member |43 to the position of Fig. 10 causesmember |49 to rock clockwise a slight amount thereby, through finger|5I, releasing the latch |31 from stop |33.

. Spring |35 then becomes effective to rock lever |35's1ightly clockwiseand cause gears |29, |33, |34 to mesh.

- Once gears |29.- |33, |34 have become meshed they remain,v engageduntil disengaged by a movement of handle so identical tc that whicheffected engagement of said gears. Thus escapement wheel ||5 and.ratchet wheel 5 will be periodically advanced and will accumulateincrements of time of the value of one tenth of an hour. As many of theelapsed time units as may and slidably mounted on each, by a pin andslot connection, is a combination stop and latch |54 in the form of aslide adapted to move radially of shaft 35 and away from the center ofsaid shaft against the tension of a spring |55 which normally holds theslide. in the positions of Figs. 5 and 9. The outer end of the slide |54is hook-shaped and adapted to strike stop member |43 when the latter hasbeen moved to a position other than Fig.

5 as in Fig. 7. The arms ||4 of all the elapsed time umts are inalignment along the .shaft 33 and normally occupy the position of Fig.5.

The shafts 35 and 94 are coupled together through a flexible connectionbest illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 4. Secured to shaft 35 is a gear |53which meshes with a gear |59 loosely mounted on shaft 94. Rigidlymounted on shaft 94,`along side gear |59, is` an arm |50 carrying a pin|5| which is in the path of movement of an ear or lug |52 formed fromthe material comprising gear |59. `AA spiral spring |53 connected to apin on arm |50 and the hub of gear |59 normally holds pin |5| and lug|52 in close contact as in Fig. 4 so that in effect shafts 35 and 94 are`coupled together through the gears |58, |59 but the spiral springprovides a yielding coupling which permits shaft 494v to continuerotatingin a clockwise direction after shaft 35 has been prevented fromrotation. Normally the parts occupy the positions shown in Figs. 4 and 5in which case the 0.0 type are in printing position.

When handle 50 is depressed in the manner previously described, the gearteeth in sector 91 engage and rotate a selected pinion 99 therebyrotating shaft 94 and arm |50 in a clockwise direction (Fig. 4) nearly afull revolution.

It will be assumed that operation of the elapsed time unit associatedwith the selected pinion 99 has been initiated by a similar previousselecting operation of handle 50 and that its ratchet wheel H5 and stopmember |43 have been moved to the position of Fig. 7 corresponding, letus say, to an elapsed time of 1.5 hours. 'I'he cam plate |0|, will, inthe manner previously described, project stop member |43 into the pathof slide |54 before shaft 94 begins to turn and the rotation of saidshaft by means of handle 50 will, through gears |59, |59 and spring |53,cause shaft 35 to turn in a counterclockwise direction until slide |54eventually strikes -stop member |43 as in Fig. 7. The type wheel 35,being secured to shaft 35 will be rotated the same extent as the slide|54.

When slide |54 strikes stop member |43, further rotation of shaft 35will be prevented and at the same. time the hook in said slide will snapover said stop member. Shaft 94, however, can rotate a further distancesince spring |53 will be tensioned and pin |5| will move away from lug|52 for the remainder of the revolution imparted to shaft 94 by sector91 and pinion 99. About the end of the downward stroke of handle 50, thehammer 51 will be released as described and the elapsed time of 1.5hours will be printed on a card inserted in chute 15. On the returnstroke of handle 50, the pin |5| will be drawn back into contactwith'lug |52 by spring |53, and after this occurs shaft 35 will berotated in a clockwise direction back to the starting position of Fig.5.

Due to the fact that the hook in slide |54 has engaged the stop member|43, the ratchet wheel |5 will also be drawn back to the position ofFig. 5 by arm ||4 and slide |54 against the tension of its spiral spring|20, this movement being permitted by pawl ||9 on escapementwheel ||5.The latter remains locked, however, and immovable due to the fact thatone of arms |23 of verge lever |22 is always engaging wheel i I5.

As the slide |54 returns to the position of Fig. 5 from the position ofFig. 7, the stop member |43 will strike the horizontal edge of theprojection |50 and push down the member |49 and with it the horizontalarm of lever |35 far vfor restoring the elapsed time unit.

enough to permit latch |31 to relatch said lever to stop |38 anddisengage gear |34 from gears |29, |33. When slide |54 arrives at apoint opposite its home position the follower |02 moves back to theposition of Fig. 5 and the springs |08, I |2 act together to restore thestop member |43 to the position of Fig. 5. Due to the thickness of themember |43, member |49 is pushed down slightly further than the positionof Fig. 5 until the lower lug |35a strikes lug |38, thus positivelyarresting both the arm ||4 and lever |35. When the member |43 isrestored to the position of Fig. 9the spring |36 restores lever |35 tothe position of Fig. 5 to bring the left hand part of member |49 belowthe stop portion |5| into the plane of member |43 in' readiness Therelative movement between bell` cranks |41 and levers |35 is provided toensure release of the latches |31 from lugs |38 as otherwise thefriction between members |43 and |49 might prevent or retard freemovement of levers |35. The relative movement between members |49 andbell cranks |41 is necessary to enable mem- The handle 50 is nextgrasped and moved along slot 53 until the pointer 5| is opposite thenumeral 4 (identifying the workman) and de- (I pressed as far as it willgo.

bers |49 to function properly to both release l latches |31 and act asstops for the restoring movements of ratchets H5;

In order to restore the handle 50 and sector 91 to the normal positionsof Figs. 4 and 5 and to restore arms ||4 to the position of' Fig. 5there is provided a spring |64 (Figs. 1 and 4) secured to a pin |65 ongear 55 and a lug |66 secured to the base 20. This spring- |64, assistedby spring 1|, and partly assisted by spring |63,

tends to rock shaft 45 and the lever 49 in a clockwise direction and istensioned whenever handle 50 is depressed.

It is imperative that the movements of handle 50 be completed in bothdirections, that is, the handle should be fully depressed in a singlestroke and also returned in the same manner. Accordingly in Fig. 3 thereis shown a simple full stroke mechanism.

An arm |66 is secured to shaft 45 and has pivoted to it a full strokepawl |61 operated by a spring |68. The pawl |61 is adapted to wipe over-teeth in an arcuateplate |69 mounted on studs carried by frame 24 (seeFig. 1 also). Suitable dwells are provided in plate |69 to permitreversing the movement of arm |66 only at i the end of the downward andupward strokes of said arm. The operation of this full stroke mechanismis conventional and like similar mechanisms used in adding machines,cash registers, and recorders of various descriptions. Stops |10 serveto limit movements of the arm |66 which is normally held against thelower stop (Fig. 3) by the spring |64 already mentioned.

The operation of the various mechanisms has been explained more or lessfully as each mechanism was described in detail, however, for sake ofcompleteness, a'brief description of the operation of the machine as awhole will now be given. It will be assumed that none of the elapsedtime units has commenced to function and all are in the position ofFigs. 5 and 9 and that the shaft 30 is in motion rotating at the rate ofone revolution in six minutes. It will further be assumed that a blankcard is to be printed like in Fig. 8.

The blank card is dropped in the chute 15 and the workman grasps theknob 80 and turns it until the pointer 8| is opposite the word startassociated with the numeral 3" DI! dial 82.

'I'he cam follower |02 of the elapsed time unit assigned to workman No.4 will be operated by cam plate |0| during the initial movement ofhandle 50 angl sector 91, thereby causing the stop member |43 to beprojected outwardly at right angles to ratchet wheel ||5 as in'Fig. 10.

During this movement, member |49 will be operated to disengage latch |31and permit gears |29, |33, |34 to engage. Since ratchet wheel ||5 andescapement wheel ||6 are held immovable at this time by one of the arms|23 of the verge lever I 22, the stop member |43 will prevent rotarymovement of arm ||4 and its slide |54 from the position of Fig. 5 sothat shaft 36, the type wheel 35, and gears |58, |59 will be heldimmovable when shaft 94 and arm |62 are rotated by sector 91. As aresult arm |60 will merely tension spring |63 and Will rotate clockwisenearly a full revolution, limited only by the thickness of lug |62.

During the time the shaft 94 and arm |60 are rotating, the hammer 61 isbeing rocked counterclockwise (Fig. 4) and is released about the timearm |66 strikes the pin |10, thereby printing the Workmans number, thetime 6:25 and the numerals 0.0 as in Fig. 8. 'I'he springs 1|, 63, |64act together to restore the handle 50 and the arm |60 to the positionsof Fig. 4. The spring 1| also restores arm 59 and latch 60 to latchingposition in readiness to print a second time on the same or a differentcard.

It will be assumed that after about seven and one-half hours haveelapsed the workman has finished the operation and again places the samecard in the chute 15 and grasping the knob 80 brings pointer 8| oppositethe word stop adjacent numeral 3 on dial 82. The handle 50 is thenpositioned, as before, opposite the numeral 4 on plate 54 and depressed.

'Ihis time the operations are much the same except that in this case the'slide |54 will not be immediately obstructed by stop member |43 as theratchet wheel ||5 of the selected unit has moved ve eights of arevolution since 6:25.

As a result shaft 38 and `type wheel 35 will rotate five eighths of arevolution to bring the types 7.5 to the printing point before slide |54of the selectedunit strikes and hooks over the stop member 43. Shaft 94will continue to rotate an extent of three e ghths of a revolutionbefore arm I 66 strikes th upper stop |10 about which time the hammer 61will be released to print the numeral 4", the time 1:25 and the numbers7.5 indicating an elapsed time of seven and one-half hours as in Fig. 8.

The parts will be restored to normal position, when handle 50 isreleased, in exactly the manner previously described, the return of armsI|4 to normal position causing the slide |54 of the selected unit todraw stop 43 of said unit back to the position of Figs. 5 and 9.

Obviously any number of the elapsed time units can be set in motion byselecting movements of handle 50 and can be stopped at any desired timesby similar selecting movements of said handle. Only two identical andsuccessive selecting operations of handle 50 are required to initiateand complete a cycle of operations of a given elapsed time unit, and allprinting and selective operations, save the operation of selecting theline on the card which is to receive the imprint, are performed by asingle manual member.

In practice it is impossible to obtain the theoretical full capacity oftwelve hours from type wheel 35 and escapement wheel IIC. In theposition of ratchet III and escapement wheel H6 corresponding to 11.9hours the slide i would obstruct outward movement of stop |43.

The position corresponding to 12.0 hours is the position of Fig. and ifratchet Iii rotated a full revolution under control of the verge lever|22 back to the position of Fig. 5, the operation of handle 50 wouldcause type wheel 35 to move a full revolution to the 0.0" position. Thiswould cause an erroneous imprint. In order to secure twelve hourscapacity it is necessary to space the types on type wheel 35 tn of aninch apart and change ratchet wheel iii and escapement wheel IIS to 122and 61 teeth respectively.

'I'he recorder is very flexible and can be readily adapted to differentsystems. For instance, Fig. 8 shows a form of card adapted to keepingrecords of the elapsed time of a given job requiring ilve operations tocomplete the work to be done. Each card can represent a given part inprocess of manufacture, a job, or an order number. The numbers in thefirst two columns of the card can represent operations or steps in theprocess of manufacture, job numbers, part numbers or even workmen. Eachelapsed time unit can be assigned to a given Job number, part number,operation number, or employee number depending on the cost accountingsystem. If desired an extra type wheel can be mounted on shaft 36 or thetype wheel l5 may be widened to permit printing of the burden of jobs oroperations adjacent the elapsed time. Other modifications, adaptationsor uses will be apparent to thse skilled in the art.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamentalnovel features of the invention as applied to a single modification, itwill be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changesin the form and details ofthe device illustrated and in its operationmay be made by those skilled in the art without departing from thespirit of the invention. It is the intention therefore to be limitedonly as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is as follows: 1. In an elapsed time recorder, aplurality of elapsed time units, recording mechanism including anelapsed time recording element controllable by any selected unit, andselecting mechanism including a single manual operating member common toall of said units for selecting an elapsed time unit, and means actuatedby said member for operating the recording element under control of theselected unit.

2. An elapsed time recorder comprising a plurality of elapsed timeunits; a time controlled drive therefor; clutches, one for each unit andadapted to connect its unit to the time drive; selecting mechanismincluding a selectively-operable manual member common to all of saidunits; and means between the manual member and clutches whereby a firstselecting operation of Said member renders a clutch eifective and asimilar second selecting operation renders the clutch ineffective.

3. In an elapsed time recorder, a plurality of elapsed timeaccumulators, a variably settable elapsed time recording element,selecting mechanism for selecting said units for operation including asingle manual device operable to control the selecting mechanism toselectively initiate and terminate operation of the elapsed time units,and means operated by the manual member for sensing the setting of a"selected unit and variably positioning the elapsed time recording 5element in accordanceA with the setting of `the selected unit. i

4. In an elapsed time recorder, a plurality of elapsed time accumulatorseach having an element displaceable in accordance with elapsed 10 time,a rotatable type wheel f or recording elapsed time, means between thetype wheel and said elements for sensing the displacement of selectedelement and setting the type wheel accordingly, and means for flrstselecting an elapsed time accumulator for operation and then operatingthe first named means including a single manual .y

member common to all the accumulators for controlling the selectingmechanism.

b. In an elapsed time recorder, a plurality of elapsed time accumulatingunits, time controlled means for operating said units, a manualselecting device, means controlled by a selecting operation of saiddevice for operatively connecting a selected unit to the time-controlledmeans, a variably settable elapsed time recording element, and meansoperated by said device for sensing the accumulation of a selected unitand variably setting said recording element in accordance with suchaccumulation.

6. An elapsed time recorder comprising a plurality of elapsed timeunits, means to operate said units at a predetermined rate, and means toselectively connect said units to said operating means including aplurality of disconnectable connecting devices each associated with oneof said units and a single manual member for selec- `tively operatingthe connecting devices, said` manual member being first manuallysettable to select one of the connecting devices and thereafter operableto actuate the connecting device whereby to either connect apredetermined unit to the operating means or disconnect said unit fromsaid operating means.

7. In an elapsed time recorder, a series of elapsed time units, means todrive said units to accumulate elapsed time, a series of devices forconnecting said units to the driving nieans or disconnecting said unitsfrom the causing means, a manual member selectively movable in onedirection to select one of said connecting means for operation andmovable in a different direction to actuate the connecting means.

8. An elapsed time recorder comprising a plurality of elapsed timeregistering units, selective starting and stopping means for said unitsincluding a single manual member common to all said units and variablymovable to control the starting and stopping means to select a unit andstart it in operation or terminate its operation, an elapsed timeprinting device common to all of said units, and means whereby theprinting device is set in accordance with the velapsed time registeredby a selected unit each time said manual member is operated to terminateoperation 65 of a unit.

9. In an elapsed time recorder, an elapsed time printing device, aseries of rotatable elapsed time elements, time controlled means forrotating said units to measure elapsed time, means connected to theprinting device for sensing the extent of rotation of a selected elementand setting said device accordingly; mechanism for selectivelyconnecting the units to the time controlled means and disconnecting themtherefrom including means for rendering a selected unit eiective tocontrol the sensing means; and means for operating both the selectingmeans and sensing means.

10. In an elapsed time recorder, a time controlled drive, a series ofelapsed time wheels each having a stop displaced from a zero position asits wheel rotates, means associated with each a constant speed tointegrate time increments,

said driving means being normally ineiective to drive said units; andselecting mechanism adapted when selectively operated to render the timedrive effective to drive a selected unit and including a single membercommon to all of said clutches for selectively controlling the selectingmechanism to initiate operation of the units one 4at a time.

12. In an elapsed time recorder, a plurality of elapsed time units, timecontrolled means for actuating the units step by step to registerelapsed time, means associated with each unit and operable in twosuccessive cycles to iirst connect a unit to said drive and thendisconnect said unit from said drive, an operating lever common to allof said'units and laterally movable to select one of the connectingmeans for operation and movable in a diiferent direction to operate theconnecting means.

13. In an elapsed time recorder, a rotatable elapsed time computingwheel with normally ineffective means to drive it at a constant speed toaccumulate elapsed time, means for rendering the driving means eiectiveto drive the wheel, a normally inactive stop movably mounted on thewheel, an elapsed time typewheel, an arm connected to the typewheel, androtatably mountedY adjacent said elapsed time wheel and engageable withsaid stop when the latter is moved into the path of the arm, anoperating lever, means operated by a preliminary movement of said leverfor moving the stop into the path of the arm and operating the rst namedmeans, and means operated by further movement of the lever for rotatingsaid arm until it is arrested by the stop whereby to set the typewheelin accordance with an accumulation by the elapsed time wheel.

14. In an elapsed time recorder, a rotatable elapsed time computingwheel with normally ineffective means to drive it at a constant speed toaccumulate elapsed time, means for rendering the driving means effectiveto drive the wheel, a stop-movably mounted on the wheel, a typewheel, anarm connected to the typewheel and rotatably mounted adjacent saidelapsed time wheel and engageable with said stop when the latter isprojected into the path of the arm, an

operating lever, meansoperated by a preliminary movement of said leverfor projecting the stop into the path of the arm and operating the firstnamed means, and means operated by further movement of the lever forrotating said arm until it is arrested by the stop whereby to set thetypewheel in accordance with an accumulation by the elapsed time wheel,a platen for taking an impression from the type wheel, and meansoperated by said lever,` at the end of the last named movement foroperating the platen.

15. In an elapsed timel recorder, a rotatable elapsed time computingwheel with means to drive it at a constant speed to accumulate elapsedtime, means for rendering the driving means effective to drive thewheel, a stop movably mounted on the wheel, a typewheel, an arm-connected to the typewheel and rotatably mounted adjacent said elapsedtime wheel and engageable with said stop when the latter is projectedinto the path of the arm, an operating lever, means operated by apreliminary movement of said lever for projecting the stop into the pathofthe arm and operating the iirst named means, and means operated byfurther movement of the lever for rotating said arm until it is arrestedby the stop whereby to set the typewheel in accordance withanaccumulation by the elapsed vtime wheel, and a latch carried by saidarm and adapted to engage said stop to restore the elapsed time wheel tostarting position when the lever is restored.

16. In an elapsed time recorder, a series oi' elapsed time accumulatingelements each displaceable from a zero position to accumulate elapsedtime; time controlled means adapted, when connected to said elements, tocause them tobe displaced in accordance with elapsed time; a recordingdevice common to all of said elements and adapted to record the amountof displacement of selected units, means connected to said recordingdevice for sensing displacement of a selected element and operating therecording device in accordance with such displacement, and

manually controlled selecting mechanism for selecting the unit tocontrol the sensing means.

17. An elapsed time recorder having a plurality of elapsed time unitsand means 'to operate any selected unit to register elapsed time; asingle receptacle for a record sheet and recording means cooperatingwith the receptacle to record elapsed time on a record sheet inserted insaid receptacle, said receptacle and recording means being common to allsaid units; means to ,select one of said units for operation including asingle manual member, and means operated by the manual member foroperating the recording means in accordance with the elapsed timeregistered by the selected unit.

18. In an elapsed time recorder, a plurality of elapsed time units,elapsed time recording mechanism for recording elapsed time on a recordsheet, means connected to the elapsed time recording mechanism forsensing the elapsed time registered by any selected unit and setting therecording mechanism in accordance with the elapsed time registered bythe selected unit, controlling means to render the sensing meanseffective to sense the elapsed time registered by a selected unit, and amember operable to selectively operate both the sensing means and thecontrolling means.

1 9. An elapsed time recorder comprising a plurality of elapsed timeunits each of which may correspond to a workman, a printing unitincluding an elapsed time printing element and an element settable toprint a workmans number along with the elapsed time, selecting mechanismincluding a selectively movable manual device for operating theselecting mechanism to selectively connect the elapsed time units to theelapsed time printing element and to Aselectively disconnect said unitsfrom said element, means to set the elapsed time printing elementaccording to elapsed time registered by the selected unit, and

means whereby the operation of the manual device to select an elapsedtime unlt selectively sets the workmans number element.

20. An elapsed time recorder comprising a plurality of elapsed timeunits, a common time controlled drive for said units, selectingmechanism including a single manual member ior operating the selectingmechanism to selectively connect said units to said drive and toselectively disconnect said units from said drive, a printing deviceoperated by said member and including means controllable by said unitsfor printing elapsed time, and means controlled by the manual member forcausing the elapsed time printing means to make an impression undercontrol of the unit selectively connected or disconnected from thedrive.

21. In an elamed time recorder, a series of elapsed time units eachincluding an element movable to successive positions to register elapsedtime, elapsed time recording means including an element settable torecord elapsed time, means connected to the recording element forsensing the successive positions of any of said movable elements, andselecting mechanism including means for rendering the sensing meanseffective with respect to the movable element of a selected elapsed timeunit.

22. In an elapsed time recorder having a series of elapsed time unitswith means to operate said units to register elapsed time, controllingmeans associated with each unit for initiating and terminating operationof said units by the operating means, said controlling means being soconstructed and arranged that two successive and similar operations ofsaid controlling means rst initiates and then terminates registration ofelapsed time by the associated unit, elapsed time recording means commonto all of said units, means controlled by the controlling means forsetting the recording means to correspond to the elapsed time registeredby said units, and a single manual member common to said units forselectively operating the controlling means and the setting means.

ALFRED L. SPRECKER.

